Friday Recap May 15th, 2026

My Comment

Audio Synopsis

On Friday, I was honored to be present for the ribbon cutting for the Boots of Honor. This is an organization that keeps alive the memory of fallen soldiers that have died since 911. It is very moving and on Sunday there will be a Community Day of Remembrance. With Memorial Day just around the corner, this gives each of us a chance to reflect on what it means to give the ultimate sacrifice. I hope to see many of you there.

Why EMS costs have risen so dramatically

The Budget Committee deliberated on the $14 million request from Williamson Health to compensate for the increased cost of EMS service in the county. I got an explanation from the director of EMS that shows how and why costs have gone up the last five years. Go here

Meetings this past week were:

County Commission Budget Committee BOMA Work Session BOMA Meeting County Planning Commission

Meetings Next Week

Monday, May 18th

School Board Meeting at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium at the Williamson County Administrative Building located on the first floor at 1320 West Main Street, Franklin. Agenda

Tuesday, May 19th

Election Commission will meet at 4:00 pm at 405 Downs Blvd.Agenda

Wednesday, May 20th

The Law Enforcement/Public Safety Committee will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda Video Committee members: Tom Tunnicliffe (C), Greg Sanford (VC), Pete Stresser, Matt Williams, Bill Petty

Special Courthouse Task Force Will meet at 5:30 pm in the auditorium of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main

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The AI program I use is pretty accurate, but it does make mistakes from time to time and I don't always catch them. I provide agendas and videos/audios when I have them available and recommend that you watch the video and follow along with the summary to get the most accurate report.

One of the limitations of AI is that if a participant's name is not called out, then they are listed as participant 1, 2, etc. A limitation with audio, as opposed to video, is that one cannot always identify a person by voice alone. As imperfect as these AI summaries are, they still give a pretty good account of a meeting.

Williamson County School Board

Monday, May 11th

School Board Work Session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] Participant 1 - Load amended 4.202 policy language for Monday board meeting first reading Policy committee has not formally reviewed the amended 4.202 language; it needs to be loaded and ready for the Monday board meeting as a first reading with a motion to amend.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Share board's benefits and compensation questions with Lean Frog ahead of June presentation Board members raised questions about benefits (health insurance, retirement, professional development, mileage, etc.) that were outside the current study scope. These should be passed to Lean Frog to incorporate or address in the June presentation.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Prepare 2026-27 superintendent goals for discussion at June work session Board agreed to begin 2026-27 goal-setting discussion at the June work session and vote on goals in August. Jason to prepare accordingly.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Confirm Lean Frog presenter for June board meeting salary study update Lean Frog's lead consultant missed this meeting due to a family loss; she will present the full detailed salary study findings at the June board meeting.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Find out how many Tennessee districts hold the High Performing School District designation Board asked how many districts in Tennessee hold the High Performing School District designation.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Publish draft e-transportation policy in InFocus and other channels before June board meeting Board asked that the draft e-transportation policy be published in InFocus and other channels so parents can review it before it is finalized.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Send board members a copy of the current superintendent contract Board requested the current superintendent contract be shared before the June board meeting.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Bring e-transportation campus policy draft for first reading at June board meeting Board asked for the e-bike/e-scooter campus requirements to be brought as a proposed policy for first reading at the June board meeting.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Have Lydia confirm board availability for a special called meeting around June 25 Board asked Lydia to reach out to members about availability for a potential special called meeting after the County Commission budget vote on June 18; June 25 (Thursday) was floated as the target date.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Send board T2 placement decision update Board asked for an update on how many T2 students/parents have chosen placement locations and how many are still undecided.
• [ ] Participant 17 - Confirm how ClassLink Analytics parent access will be referenced on the new technology hub Board member asked whether ClassLink Analytics parent access would be linked or referenced on the new technology hub page.
• [ ] Participant 19 - Prepare suggested edits to 4.202 service delivery log language for policy committee Board voted to move forward with the service delivery log policy (4.202 amendment). Maria to prepare any suggested language tweaks for the policy committee's review ahead of second reading in June.
• [ ] Participant 20 - Get accurate count of apps in use across the district Board asked for the actual number of apps currently in use across the district (the 10,000 figure was questioned).
• [ ] Participant 20 - Check if Google Workspace can flag documents shared with more than ~5 people Board member asked whether Google Workspace can flag documents shared with more than a certain number of people (e.g., five) to help catch proxy-sharing among students.
• [ ] Participant 3 - Pull and share average teacher length of service data Board asked for the average length of service for teachers in WCS.
• [ ] Participant 3 - Send board a cost-of-living comparison chart (home values and rent by district) Board requested a chart comparing median home values and rents across peer districts to visualize cost-of-living differences.

Overview

• Lean Frog's salary study (Phases 1–3 complete) found WCS starts competitively but falls behind peers by around year 5–10 for teachers and at end-of-scale for classified staff — structural schedule design is the core problem, not starting pay
• Screen time committee wrapped its main work: technology use guidance finalized after 4 meetings and 3 revisions, family resource hub planned to launch at start of school year, committee continuing semi-annually in 26-27
• Board debated going further than the guidance — Participant 5 proposed making K–5 a technology-free environment; Participant 10 suggested extending the "prioritize non-electronic materials" language to K–12; no decisions made, policy drafting underway
• E-bike/e-scooter campus policy coming before the board in June for first reading — paralleling the existing car registration and safety course process
• County budget gap stands at $17,865,953 — county budget committee recommended a 3-cent property tax increase plus 2 pennies transferred from general fund; board's June 15th meeting precedes the commission vote on June 18th, so a special called meeting is tentatively set for Thursday, June 25th
• Special ed service delivery log policy moved toward first reading Monday with a motion to amend — Maria confirmed the log can be implemented in TN Pulse at the start of the school year without waiting for the calendar feature (due October 31st)
• Board reached consensus to begin 2026-27 superintendent goal-setting discussion at the June work session and vote on goals in August; contract and evaluation discussion also on the June agenda
• High Performing School District Flexibility Act renewal recommended for approval — qualifies WCS for regulatory waivers and reduces paperwork for cafeteria and SACC budgets

Lean Frog salary study findings

• Lean Frog completed Phases 1–3 (discovery, current state analysis, and peer benchmarking across 8 Tennessee districts); Phases 4–5 (recommendations and final report) are in progress, with a full presentation planned for the June meeting
• WCS teacher pay starts competitively but falls behind all geographic peers by step 10, particularly in the Bachelor's lane — the salary schedule ends at year 21 while most peers extend to 25 or 30
• End-of-scale gaps vs. peer average are significant for classified staff: School Secretary 21.6% below, Maintenance General 18.1% below, Food Service Cafe Manager 17.8% below, Mechanic/Maintenance Electrician 15–17% below
• The root cause is structural — banded progression in 5-year increments for classified staff, schedules ending before careers end, and lack of pay differential at promotion (including the AP-to-principal path)
• Participant 3 noted Williamson County's cost of living is substantially higher than peers — median home value $751,900 vs. $417,400 in Metro Nashville and $382,600 in Rutherford — which skews competitiveness further
• Participant 6 raised that some peer districts receive more federal and state funding, which affects their pay capacity; Participant 8 confirmed WCS receives its full allocated federal funding but doesn't qualify for additional poverty-based allocations
• Participant 1 noted roughly 63% of WCS teachers hold a master's degree or higher, and the current average teacher salary is $67,044 for 2025-26
• Board asked Lean Frog to incorporate cost-of-living data, benefits valuation, and teacher retention trends into the June presentation

Screen time committee update

• Committee completed its four objectives: cell phone policy recommendations, combined screen time and technology use guidance (3 revisions over 4 meetings), and a family resource hub framework
• The family resource hub will live on a new district technology webpage managed jointly by IT and instructional technology, targeting launch at the start of the school year
• Hub structure covers four areas: district (laws, policies, privacy, AI), students (digital apps public portal, digital literacy, Chromebooks), families (digital wellness, online safety, family resources, support), and a district vision/featured video landing page
• Technology use guidance is treated as a living document — changes expected as state law evolves and new research emerges; the committee will meet semi-annually in October and February
• 11 of 15 returning committee members confirmed participation for 26-27

Technology use debate and board proposals

• Participant 5 proposed making K–5 a technology-free environment, shifting middle school (6–8) to supervised computer labs rather than one-to-one devices, citing neuroscience on brain development and fiscal stewardship from longer desktop lifecycles
• Participant 10 suggested the guidance language prioritizing non-electronic materials should apply K–12, not just K–5, since the district can go beyond state law requirements
• A committee parent (Katie Schlachter) suggested revised language: teacher-led instruction as the K–12 standard, with non-electronic materials prioritized over electronic only in K–5 — Participant 18 read this into the record
• Participant 10 also asked for handwriting to be explicitly prioritized over typing in the guidance, citing a 2025 neuroscience study on handwriting vs. typewriting
• Participant 6 raised a specific incident where sixth graders accessed inappropriate content ("Five Nights with Jeffrey Epstein") via proxy servers; Participant 20 (Brian King) explained WCS has blocked close to 1,000 proxy servers this school year but it's an ongoing battle
• Participant 18 flagged that students are sharing proxy links through shared Google Docs and Slides — suggested flagging any document shared with more than 5 people as a potential intervention point; Participant 20 agreed to look into it
• Participant 1 confirmed a draft board policy is in progress — expected to be more comprehensive than the state law — and the guidance document could either be incorporated into policy or referenced by it; board asked to think about their preference before the policy comes forward
• Participant 2 raised whether this committee should become a standing committee rather than ad hoc; Participant 16 suggested making broad stakeholder involvement a cultural norm across topics, not just technology

E-bikes and e-scooters on campus

• WCS is developing a campus policy for personal e-transportation that parallels the existing car registration process — students must register their device, display a registration tag, and complete a safety course with a parent or guardian present
• Students must dismount and walk their device on campus; Class 3 e-bikes are not permitted for elementary students; third through fifth graders can ride independently, younger students must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling
• Participant 1 cited a fatal accident involving a Brentwood student (in Davidson County) as part of the urgency, and noted municipalities across Williamson County have been pushing for school-level action given limited state-level regulation
• A proposed policy is expected for first reading at the June board meeting — Participant 1 confirmed the intent to move quickly rather than wait another year, and safety course sessions will be offered over the summer
• Dr. Webb's team confirmed SROs will be present at safety course sessions, and helmet requirements and rules of the road are included in the training curriculum
• Participant 1 confirmed WCS will publish the draft policy through InFocus and other channels before the June board meeting so parents can review it before it's finalized

Budget adjustments and county funding gap

• The county budget gap is $17,865,953 — the county budget committee recommended covering it through a 3-cent property tax increase (worth ~$2.6M per penny, so ~$7.8M total), 2 pennies transferred from the county general fund (~$5.2M), ESCO payment forgiveness for this year and next, and a $2.2M reduction to WCS's budget
• WCS received $4M (the maximum) in state Letter Grade Bonus funds after the legislature increased the pool from $17M to $28M — $1.6M more than the $2.4M already built into fund balance projections
• Additional budget amendments going to the board Monday include: $1,183,842.58 for energy systems conservation debt service, $2.4M for liability and property insurance (premiums up ~$600K plus increased claims), and $200K for Student Support Services legal expenses — all funded from fund balance
• Trustee commission budget needs an additional $300K added, bringing the projected annual total to $5.5M — Participant 2 noted this amount is effectively unavailable to the district despite appearing in revenue figures
• Board's June 15th meeting falls before the commission's June 18th budget vote and June 2nd public hearing — a special called board meeting is tentatively set for Thursday, June 25th to finalize the budget after the commission acts
• The K–2 social studies textbooks removed from the budget in a prior vote would require a new board vote to restore if funding becomes available

Special ed service delivery logs

• Participant 14 (Tony Bostick) wants a policy requiring service delivery logs for OT, PT, and speech therapy services — covering student name, provider name, date, start/end time, location, and optional notes — to give parents transparency and protect the district in disputes
• Maria confirmed the log can be implemented in TN Pulse's existing progress reporting system at the start of the school year without waiting for the calendar feature build (which won't be ready until October 31st)
• The calendar feature would show parents when services are scheduled; the progress report approach shows when services were delivered — Participant 14 is satisfied with either, as long as the log exists
• Participant 4 suggested waiting for the TN Pulse tool rather than implementing a manual process mid-transition; Participant 14 pushed back, noting it's been a year since the board first discussed this and doesn't want to delay further
• Participant 13 suggested the policy set the standard and leave implementation method to the administration — Participant 14 agreed the policy doesn't specify the delivery format
• The policy is expected to go to first reading Monday via a motion to amend the existing 4.202 policy, with second reading at the June policy committee meeting; Maria noted she has a few suggested language tweaks to raise at that stage

Superintendent evaluation, goals, and contract

• Board reached consensus to begin the 2026-27 goal-setting discussion at the June work session and vote to approve goals in August — giving Participant 1 roughly 3 more months of runway than the current year's goals provided
• Participant 18 suggested aligning goal-setting with the contract and evaluation timing so goals are set at the same time the contract is renewed, rather than staggered months apart
• Participant 10 suggested starting the goal conversation in June and voting in August, with student achievement data available by then — several board members agreed
• Contract renewal and evaluation are both on the June board meeting agenda; Participant 1 noted a state law restricts contract action within 45 days of an election (June 22nd), making August a likely impossibility for contract action — June 15th clears that window by 7 days
• Participant 1's current contract runs through end of June 2028; last year's board chose not to extend, which is why it's now at the two-year base
• Board asked to receive a copy of the current contract before the June meeting

School board calendar and flexibility act renewal

• Board approved the proposed meeting calendar through November 2027, extended further than prior years to help with planning across the board transition
• Participant 4 suggested moving the January 4, 2027 policy committee meeting to December (likely December 7th) to avoid staff being asked to prep materials over the holiday break — Participant 1 agreed to check the date
• High Performing School District Flexibility Act renewal recommended for approval — WCS qualifies for the three-year designation, which primarily reduces paperwork for food service and SACC budgets and preserves the option to request regulatory waivers in the future

Williamson County Commission Meetings

Monday, May 11th

County Commission Meeting Agenda/Packet Video Votes

AI Summary

Overview

• Full board of 24 present; all routine votes passed unanimously unless noted
• County reduced total outstanding direct debt by $7,350,000 through refunding advantages and fund balance opportunities
• Winter Storm Fern recovery ongoing — ~$3M in documented county losses so far, with ~$2M expected from FEMA, ~$325K from state, ~$325K from insurance, leaving ~$325K for the county to cover
• Septic task force report approved unanimously (24–0) and forwarded to the Board of Health; ~60 recommendations, 6 already adopted in March; remaining amendments go to Board of Health starting June
• Judicial center planning active — bond publication resolution passed 21–3, Columbia Ave due diligence extended 6 months for $175K (passed 18–6), and $100K appropriated for site evaluation and needs assessment (passed 23–1)
• Franklin High School and Page High School received swatting threats today; lockdown protocols activated, multiple agencies responded — Superintendent Golden says protocols worked
• Health Dept Director Kathy Montgomery's last meeting; Colin Simmons takes over June 5th
• Personnel policy manual updated with new bereavement comp time amendment; passed 22–2 abstain

Opening & minutes approval

• Meeting opened with invocation by Commissioner Hayes and pledge led by Commissioner Jones
• Minutes from the March 11, 2026 regular meeting approved 24–0 (Commissioner Aiello cast a voice vote after a button issue)

Citizen communications

• Beverly Purvis (Williamson County Education Association) urged the commission to fully fund the district's budget including a 4% raise for teachers and staff, arguing it merely keeps pace with inflation and that failing to do so is effectively a pay cut
• Two library board members — Jessica Robb and Mindy Tate — asked the commission to fully fund the Nolansville branch capital project at $900,000 rather than the $450,000 proposed by the budget committee, noting the city is making in-kind contributions and that the branch has vastly outgrown its current space
• Custom home builder Noel Jones asked the commission to carefully review Section 27 of the septic task force recommendations, which limits new soil mapping for new construction to private soil scientists only, arguing a two-track system using county staff would be faster and cheaper for residents

Proclamations

• Commissioner Matt Williams read proclamations honoring 2026 Tennessee AAU wrestling finalists and champions — 8 Williamson County clubs, 108 qualifiers, 51 medalists, 8 state champions — and 2026 TSSAA wrestling finalists and champions from county high schools — 59 qualifiers, 26 medalists, 10 finalists, 4 state champions
• Mayor Anderson read a proclamation declaring May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month; an ALS Association rep noted 7 families in Williamson County and 300+ across Tennessee are currently being served
• Commissioner Betsy Hester read a proclamation declaring May 2026 as Williamson County Family and Community Education Month, recognizing 5 FCE clubs with histories ranging from 51 to 105 years; Betty Hughes was recognized for 62 years of membership

County finance report

• CFO Phoebe Riley reported the county reduced total outstanding direct debt by $7,350,000 through refunding advantages and fund balance opportunities
• Privilege tax collections held steady — $918,176 in February and $1,132,697 in March
• Education impact fee averaged $1.5M per month for both February and March
• Cool Springs Conference Center turned a profit in both February and March, bringing year-to-date profit to just over $291,000

Winter Storm Fern recovery

• SBA's Tracy Gale presented disaster loan programs available to Williamson County residents (presidential declaration county) — home loans at 2.875%, business loans starting at 4%, nonprofits at 3.625%, all with no payments or accruing interest for the first 12 months; a Mobile Disaster Recovery Center is on-site at the Columbia Avenue library May 11–16 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Williamson EMA's Joshua Walters reported ~$3M in documented county losses so far, with ~$2M expected from FEMA, ~$325K from state, ~$325K from insurance, and ~$325K remaining for the county — documentation is still ongoing and totals are expected to increase
• Right-of-way debris removal is complete; Mac's team is still grinding and reducing material at the landfill
• Commissioner Lawrence asked about the new rule requiring debris be cut into 3-foot sections; Mac explained it multiplies how much fits per load by 3–4x, significantly cutting hauling costs
• Resolution 5-26-38 appropriated $1,292,224 from solid waste fund balance to replace the grinder destroyed by the storm — one of only 3 ever built, parts are nearly impossible to source; a replacement is being manufactured and could ship to Columbia, TN as early as this week

Septic regulations task force

• Task force held 10 meetings over ~14 weeks (including 2 public meetings) and produced ~60 recommendations; the Board of Health unanimously adopted 6 of them in March
• Already-adopted changes include: expanded allowable square footage for nonconforming systems, allowing multiple structures to share one septic system, adopting state setback requirements (generally less restrictive than county's), making curtain drains on LPP systems conditional rather than mandatory, and reducing required disposal field area
• Key remaining recommendations include: a path to document undocumented systems, allowing chamber systems, dual-rating systems on plats instead of specifying a single type, making soil modification of backup areas conditional on actual use, allowing systems on slopes up to 30%, and removing the geotechnical report requirement for slippage soils
• The one contested recommendation is Section 27, which limits new soil mapping for new construction to private soil scientists — Commissioners Petty, Williams, and Hayes all want this revisited once the new director is in place, noting county staff hold equivalent certifications and the restriction could create a bottleneck
• Commissioner Herbert (task force member) clarified that the task force made this call because county staff hadn't been doing soil maps for ~20 years, and two of three recent attempts by staff were sent back to private soil scientists anyway — the intent is to let things stabilize before revisiting
• Commissioner Petty noted the county has 4 soil scientists and 1 qualified tech on staff who can do assessments for $350, versus a private soil map costing roughly $10,000+ when survey and mapping costs are included
• Resolution 5-26-21 approving the task force report and forwarding recommendations to the Board of Health passed 24–0; amendments go to the Board of Health in batches starting June, with the first batch covering nonresidential/undocumented systems, soil modification, slopes, geotechnical reports, and all Section 26 plating changes

School update

• Franklin High School and Page High School received swatting threats today — Franklin's was serious enough that the Sheriff's Office took leadership of the campus per protocol, with Franklin Police, Franklin Fire, WCSO, Homeland Security, FBI, Emergency Management, and Brentwood Police all responding
• Superintendent Golden says protocols worked and sent a message to Franklin High parents this evening; he expects a conversation with federal legislative representatives about addressing swatting at the federal level
• Resolution 5-26-5 — $659,848 from the education impact fee fund for 4 special education growth buses — passed 24–0; previously planned as a bond purchase, CFO Rachel Farmer identified the impact fee as an eligible funding source, avoiding borrowing

Hospital report

• Williamson Medical Center named to Newsweek's 2026 World's Best Hospitals list and America's Best Maternity Hospitals for the third consecutive year — one of only 5 Tennessee hospitals to receive top rankings across all maternity categories
• Earned an "A" Hospital Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group
• New cardiac MRI on track to begin seeing patients next month
• March net income was favorable to budget by $248,000 (20.1%); year-to-date net income favorable by $2.9M (122%)
• Days cash on hand increased 6.5 days to 116 days; debt coverage improved to 2.52 from 2.46
• Commissioner Petty asked about the disparity between 1,000+ adolescent ER visits and only 10–11 inpatient admissions; Phil Mazuka explained Williamson County's adult ER admission rate (~9%) is already well below the national average of 16–17% because the community is healthier

Health dept leadership transition

• Director Kathy Montgomery's last meeting after 14 years leading the Health Department
• Colin Simmons was introduced as her replacement, starting June 5th

Elections & appointments

• Board of Health appointments (4-year terms expiring April 2030): Samuel R. Bastion (graduate doctor, replacing C.A. Stillwell Jr.), Gary Owen (graduate dentist), Martin Myers (graduate pharmacist), Rhonda Watson (registered nurse), Charles Beacham (doctor of veterinary medicine) — all passed 24–0
• Disciplinary Review Board reappointments (2-year terms expiring May 2028): Daniel Cohen Blair, Elisa Finney, Benjamin Peterson, Ashley Lundquist — passed 24–0
• Equalization Board reappointments (2-year terms expiring May 2028): Kim Penning, Tim McLaughlin, David L. Coleman, David Bynum, Jane Campbell — passed 24–0
• Hospital Board of Trustees reappointments (3-year terms expiring May 2029): Paul Fleecer, Judy Herbert, Paul Webb — passed 22–1–1

Judicial center planning

• Resolution 5-26-37 (initial resolution authorizing up to $17,850,000 in general obligation bonds) passed 21–3 — this is a publication prerequisite only, not a vote to borrow or purchase; Commissioner Morton noted that without it, a no-August-meeting gap could push bond issuance to October or later
• Commissioner Clifford voted no, arguing a 30-day publication delay is acceptable and that approving the resolution sends a premature signal on an ~$18M commitment; Commissioner Mason voted yes, wanting the commission to decide before new commissioners take their seats in the fall
• Resolution 5-26-36 (second amendment to extend due diligence on the 926 Columbia Avenue property by 180 days for $175,000) passed 18–6 as amended; the $175K is non-refundable if the county walks away but applies toward the purchase price if it proceeds
• Commissioner Aiello (task force chair) confirmed the task force voted unanimously for this extension, including the City of Franklin mayor and city administrator; no other specific properties have been formally proposed yet — the May 20th task force meeting will consider property swaps, county-owned parcels, private parcels, and adaptive reuse of the existing courthouse
• Task force sunsets in September; a written report and presentation to the commission is planned for the July meeting
• Resolution 5-26-8 appropriated $100,000 from the county general fund for site evaluation, needs assessment, and preliminary design work to give the task force hard numbers — passed 23–1; Commissioner Sanford suggested engaging a commercial real estate agent (free until purchase) and reaching out to CTAS for courthouse expertise

Jail medical costs

• Resolution 5-26-19 appropriated $600,000 in additional funds for inmate medical services at the Williamson County Jail — passed 23–1
• Jail Administrator Carol Esteban explained the jail population is getting sicker and cases are taking longer to adjudicate — one pretrial inmate with cancer ran up nearly $174,000 in medical bills before being released
• Commissioner Mason noted her office is working with the jail on ROR bonds and bond reductions, but some individuals can't be released given the seriousness of their charges; she cited a current case where the first available trial date for aggravated child neglect is Q4 2027
• The county receives $53/day per state inmate (tier two facility) but has rarely been able to recoup medical expenses for pretrial inmates who are not yet sentenced; the medical line item was held flat in the current budget due to a 5% budget cut

Budget amendments & routine resolutions

• South Harpeth Road final paving — $831,491.13 reimbursed from state aid program (Res. 5-26-10)
• Library budget amended by $29,067.50 from City of Franklin donation and memorials (Res. 5-26-11)
• Solid waste budget amended by $1,000,000 for Winter Storm Fern debris removal, funded from solid waste fund balance (Res. 5-26-14)
• Parks and Recreation budget amended by $19,791.48 for all-terrain wheelchairs, funded by a donation from Pam Lewis (Res. 5-26-15)
• Williamson Fire and Emergency Services donated funds to construct a storage garage; capital projects budget amended by $120,000 (Res. 5-26-16)
• Sheriff's Office THSP grant reduced by $8,000 due to state cut, not performance (Res. 5-26-17); rollover grant funds of $128,666.66 appropriated for the coming year (Res. 5-26-18)
• Water infrastructure — $1,035,109.50 appropriated from TDEC/ARPA state grant pass-through (Res. 5-26-20)
• Battle of Franklin Trust license agreement for historic signage, trails, and park benches on Enrichment Center property approved 24–0 (Res. 5-26-29); Commissioner Aiello noted the contract is heavily in the county's favor — the Trust does the work and the county owns it
• Dutch Shepherd K-9 officer conveyed to former handler, approved 24–0 (Res. 5-26-30)
• Surplus county weapons approved for sale (Res. 5-26-31); surplus UAVs and related equipment conveyed to Town of Nolansville (Res. 5-26-32)
• City of Franklin Planning denial overruled for the Alternative Learning Center (Triple J project) regarding parking layout — passed 23–1 (Res. 5-26-33)
• Hotel-motel tax rate maintained at 4% for FY 2026–2027 (Res. 5-26-34)
• County authorized to enter interlocal agreements with municipalities for autopsy services at $2,500 per autopsy — cost recovery effort for services the county has been providing (Res. 5-26-35)
• Mental health court coordinator grant from Tennessee Dept. of Mental Health accepted (Res. 5-26-22); DUI Recovery Court lease at 129 West Folk Street renewed (Res. 5-26-23)
• Humane trap rental deposit increased to better reflect replacement cost after non-returns (Res. 5-26-24)
• State dental services grant up to $175,800 accepted for Health Dept (Res. 5-26-25)
• Library Foundation donation acknowledged for all-terrain wheelchair at Peacock Hill Park storybook trail (Res. 5-26-26)
• Resolution of support passed for state legislation creating a producer responsibility framework for packaging waste recycling — 23–0–1 (Res. 5-26-27)

Personnel policy updates

• Resolution 5-26-28 updated the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual — changes include aligning full-time employee status definition with state standards, updating FMLA provisions, and adding a new Section 3.07 allowing employees to use PTO, sick, vacation, comp time, or bereavement leave to reach full pay for their standard work period
• Commissioner Hayes (26 years in HR) called the update overdue and important for both employee retention and recruitment
• Commissioners Webb and Tunnicliffe each disclosed indirect conflicts of interest (ARPA accountant role and a family member at the Animal Center, respectively) but voted their conscience
• Amendment passed 23–0–1; resolution as amended passed 22–0–2

Tuesday, May 12th

Budget Committee Agenda Transfers Video Committee members: Chas Morton (C), Guy Carden, Betsy Hester, Paul Web, Mayor Anderson

AI Summary

Overview

• Budget committee approved 5 routine dept transfers and voted to recommend a 3-cent property tax increase on the general purpose school fund to close a ~$3.78M school funding gap
• The gap stems from a $3.3–3.4M TISA funding loss (state locked the "ability to pay" in March–April, reducing state ed funds) compounded by a ~$9M swing from last year's rate change (0.92 to 0.94)
• To avoid an 8-cent increase, the committee approved a package: 2-penny shift from county general to school fund, deferring energy bond reimbursements for FY27 and FY28, asking the school board to revisit $2.2M in textbook spending, and cuts to ambulance, CVB, Williamson Inc., and capital budgets
• 4% pay raise for all employees (county and school board) is preserved in the approved plan
• Several items remain open or dependent on school board action — the textbook deferral was not approved by the board, and the school board's own budget still shows an 8-cent ask vs. the committee's 3-cent recommendation; both columns will run in the paper
• Phoebe (Participant 6) will send a revised budget sheet by the following day (May 17th) before it runs in the paper the following week

Dept budget transfers

• Parks and Rec: $15,800 moved between maintenance line items — passed unanimously
• Health Dept: $716 moved from drugs and medical supplies to instructional supplies — passed unanimously
• Public Safety: $3,000 moved from uniforms to maintenance and repair — passed unanimously
• Solid Waste: $1,000 moved from in-service to office supplies — passed unanimously
• Sheriff's Dept: $1,000 moved from building maintenance to data processing equipment — passed unanimously

FY26-27 budget overview and TISA funding loss

• The state locked the "ability to pay" window from March to April, cutting ~$3.3–3.4M in state ed funds that would have flowed from the Dept of Education to the schools
• Last year's rate move from 0.92 to 0.94 created a ~$9M swing that's no longer available in fund balance this year
• Last year the committee recommended a 134-cent rate but was asked to drop to 129 cents; the measures taken then to absorb that cut are now compounding this year's shortfall
• Without any adjustments, the school fund gap requires an 8-cent property tax increase

School funding gap and fixes

• Starting gap: -$19,825 (shortfall requiring an 8-cent increase to close)
• New assessed values from the property assessor added $1.3M in revenue projection — growth is now at ~3%, up from 2.6% last month
• Last night's commission vote to fund special ed buses from education impact fees (not fund balance) lets schools keep $659,848 in their fund balance
• Committee recommends forgoing school energy bond reimbursements for both FY27 ($1.183M) and FY28 ($1.2M), which Phoebe absorbs into county general and rural debt service
• Committee asked the school board to revisit the $2.2M textbook purchase (social studies, youngest elementary grades) that the board voted to include after Jason's team recommended deferring it — if the board agrees, the gap drops to $13,278,473
• With all adjustments plus the 3-cent increase and 2-penny shift, the school fund ends with ~$104,000 surplus
• Jason (Participant 7) is trying to schedule a meeting with state officials on TISA but is pessimistic about recovering funds

Employee pay raises

• 4% pay raise is preserved for all employees under the approved plan
• One percent represents ~$4.137M for the schools alone — reducing to 3% was modeled but rejected
• Commissioner Webb (Participant 2) confirmed 3 cents on the school fund covers the gap and restores the 4% raise with ~$104,000 to spare

Ambulance service and Spring Hill/Murray County

• Committee recommends cutting the hospital's ambulance budget request by $1.5M, reducing the county contribution from the requested ~$14M to $12M — still a ~$3M increase over the current $8.943M
• The cut is tied to potentially ending EMS service on the Spring Hill/Murray County side, which the mayor flagged Murray County should be covering
• Connor (Participant 9) outlined significant domino risks if Spring Hill deconsolidates from Williamson County dispatch:
  • Loss of $555,000 in dispatch revenue from Spring Hill
  • Loss of $103,000 in radio system fees
  • Possible reduction in state 911 funding — the state pushes consolidation, not deconsolidation
  • Operational complexity if two 911 centers have to coordinate on the same calls
• Spring Hill's contract is up July 1, 2026 — the mayor put Spring Hill's mayor on alert 3–4 weeks ago
• Connor's team recommends Spring Hill and/or Murray County contribute toward EMS costs and believes it's in their interest to stay in the system; phasing the change in over time was suggested

Capital budget cuts

• Committee recommends reducing ambulances from 6 to 3, saving $1,541,010
• IT capital cut by $300,000
• Sheriff's Dept capital cut by $300,000 (fleet vehicles, portable radios, etc.)
• Public Safety capital cut by $200,000
• Nolansville library project eliminated ($450,000) — the library hasn't secured its matching funds, and the committee suggested reapplying if numbers improve next year
• Parks capital cut by $150,000
• Total capital reductions bring the figure down to $2,941 (net gap after cuts)
• Fund balance draw increases from the planned $15M to $17,747,580 this year to absorb the gap
• Phoebe noted these cuts may not be permanent — departments may be able to revisit capital requests at the start of calendar year 2027 once fiscal year-end fund balances are known

Operating budget cuts

• All new approved positions frozen until January 1, 2027, saving $282,000 — exceptions are the public defender, fire instructor, and one general sessions position (grant-funded or self-funding)
• Hospital (Williamson Medical) ambulance contribution reduced by $1.5M to $12M total (from a requested $14M; current year is $8.943M)
• CVB funding reduced from 25% to 20% of hotel/motel tax collections, saving $405,785 — the hotel/motel tax is maxed at 4% by state law so raising it isn't an option
• Williamson Inc. contribution cut by 5%, saving $20,000
• Phoebe confirmed these are the committee's formal directions for her to take back to each entity

Property tax increase

• Committee voted to recommend a 3-cent increase on the general purpose school fund rate, moving it from 0.75 to 0.80 (combined with the 2-penny shift from county general, which drops from 0.28 to 0.26)
• One cent on the county general fund = $2.86M; one cent on the school fund = $2.67M
• Commissioner Webb (Participant 2) moved the 3-cent increase; seconded by Participant 13 — passed unanimously
• The school board's own budget still reflects an 8-cent ask; the paper will run both columns (school board recommendation and budget committee recommendation) since the board won't meet again before the publication deadline
• The notice must run in the paper at least 10 days before the public hearing — Phoebe is targeting the week of May 18th to hit that window

Thursday, May 14th

Planning Commission Agenda/Packet Video

AI Summary

Overview

• Commission approved most items on the agenda — key exception was Creekbend Manor (Item 28), deferred one month pending documentation of a newly negotiated 5-foot land strip acquisition
• Wilson Branch Farms concept plan (28 lots on 34.15 acres, TCA-2 zoning) approved over vocal opposition from Old Murfreesboro Road residents who raised concerns about density, traffic, and water availability
• Terravista road construction is underway — paving targeted for the week of May 25th
• Items 24, 30, 32, and 35 were on the consent agenda for deferral

Admin and consent agenda

• Items 24, 30, 32, and 35 were placed on the consent agenda for deferral per staff
• One commissioner recused from the consent agenda
• April 9, 2026 minutes approved without discussion

Public comment on Wilson Branch Farms

• Three Old Murfreesboro Road residents — Mark Johnson, Phyllis Johnson, and Tim Johnson (unrelated) — all spoke in opposition to the Wilson Branch Farms concept plan
• Core objection is density: the proposed 28 lots on half-acre minimums would roughly double the current 29 residences on the road, none of which are under one acre
• Residents raised traffic concerns — Old Murfreesboro Road is 1.5 miles long, already gridlocked at commute hours, and the development has one way in and one way out
• Phyllis Johnson flagged a water availability issue — she said Nolensville/College Grove Utility District told her no new water taps are available on Old Murfreesboro Road until the Triune project developer adds a new water main on Highway 96
• Phyllis Johnson also noted that subdivisions under 50 lots have no public notification requirement, which she argued lacks transparency
• Tim Johnson, a history professor at Lipscomb University, raised concerns about potential Civil War artifacts and burial sites on or near the property, noting LIDAR photography has confirmed a Union fortification on an adjacent hill and roughly 15 battles were fought in and around Triune

Terravista roads and drainage update

• Trees were planted approximately 10 days before the meeting on the burn area
• Road construction was set to start the day after the meeting (Saturday, May 16th) or Monday, May 18th, with equipment already being dropped
• Paving is scheduled for the week of May 25th, after which crews will roll into Phase 1 repairs
• Geotech core report on asphalt thickness for Phase 1 is complete but not yet back from the lab

Wilson Branch Farms concept plan

• Commission approved the concept plan per staff recommendation despite public opposition
• Staff confirmed the plan complies with TCA-2 zoning — minimum lot size is 0.5 acres, density is 2 units per acre, and the Triune Special Area Plan was adopted in November 2020 after numerous public meetings
• No traffic study was required (threshold not met for a development under 50 lots), and staff's traffic consultant confirmed no road improvements to Old Murfreesboro Road are required
• Developer (represented by Chase Kerr, Crunk Engineering) confirmed they've agreed with Nolensville/College Grove Utility District to extend a water line down Old Murfreesboro Road, which will also improve water service for surrounding lots
• Water line extension must be in place before final plat — preliminary plat can proceed without it
• 8 of the 28 lots are flagged as critical due to steep slopes and will require specific engineering footings for home construction
• No archaeological study has been done on the site — applicant said they'd follow proper notification procedures if anything is found during construction
• 45% of the property remains open space; 91% of existing trees are retained

Chestnut Hill Farms and Joybelle Estates plats

• Chestnut Hill Farms LLE (Item 26) approved — 5 lots on 28.5 acres off Whippoorwill Drive, served by on-site wells and septic
• Joybelle Estates (Item 27) approved — 12 lots on 110.1 acres off Eudailey-Covington Road, with 14.21 acres of open space, private gated roads, Milcrofton Utility District water, and individual septic; consistent with revised concept plan

Creekbend Manor plat and variances

• Item deferred one month (to the June 2026 meeting) so the applicant can return with proper documentation on the easement issue
• Two variances were needed: one for a floodplain development permit (FDP) to build a ~110-foot bridge crossing — staff supports this; one for an easement less than 5 feet from the northern property line — staff does not support this
• Applicant (Adam Crunk, Crunk Engineering) presented new information at the meeting: the easement was originally recorded in 2023 (not 2025 as stated in the staff report) by a prior party who didn't account for the 5-foot setback requirement, and the neighboring property owner (Moussa) declined to allow the easement to be relocated
• Just before the meeting, the applicant negotiated a purchase of a 5-foot strip of land from the northern neighbor (Calvin Haggard) running from Horton Highway to the rear property line, which would resolve the setback issue without relocating the easement
• Commission opted to defer rather than approve with conditions, given the documentation wasn't yet finalized — applicant was advised to request an extension if the item can't be resolved within the month to avoid a 60-day issue
• Bridge is designed so that in a 100-year flood event it can only be overtopped by 3 inches; county flood analysis confirmed no adverse impact on surrounding properties; HOA will be responsible for bridge maintenance

Arbors at Leipers Fork amenity center

• Site plan approved for the amenity center on ~51 acres of open space at the corner of Mayview Pass and Laurel Valley Drive, off Hargrove Road
• Facilities include a sports court with pavilion, small playground, pavilion and fire pit, sidewalks, trails, and a parking lot

Remaining plat approvals

• Haley Valley LLE (Item 31) approved — 5 lots on 25.12 acres off Murfreesboro Road, Nolensville/College Grove water, Triune sewer
• Artesian Acres Lot 201 (Item 33) approved — 1 lot on 5 acres off Artesian Drive, Nolensville/College Grove water, on-site septic; consistent with preliminary plat
• King's Chapel Section 5 (Item 34) approved — 1 lot on 0.78 acres off Murfreesboro Road with 0.5 acres of open space, Milcrofton water, Superior Wastewater; confirmed consistent with the revised concept plan approved a couple months prior

Franklin Board of Mayor and Alderman

Tuesday, May 12th

BOMA Work Session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Overview

• BOMA heard 6 items at the May 11 work session — no final votes taken, but board sentiment was clear on several
• Stable House transitional housing proposal at 113 Old Carter's Creek Pike: board is broadly supportive and directed staff to continue vetting, with key concerns around neighbor outreach, site costs, security, and a competing city use for the land (biosolids staging)
• Arno Road annexation study (Resolution 2026-22): strong opposition from board members, city staff, county commissioners, and residents — multiple aldermen said they won't support it; public hearing set for June 9, 2026
• Ovation PUD (Resolution 2026-24): board largely aligned with FMPC's recommendations; MOS 1 (angled parking) and MOS 8 (LED movie screen) drew the most debate; public hearing set for June 9, 2026
• Colletta Park PUD revision (Ordinance 2026-06 / Resolution 2026-25): straightforward removal of a 0.55-acre parcel, staff and FMPC both recommend approval 7–0

Sustainability Commission update

• Commission meets the 2nd Friday at 8:00 AM in the admin building conference room — 8–9 meetings per year
• Annual litter survey in February covers ~100 street segments; results shared with the Streets Department (Jerry Hatcher's team) to prioritize cleanup
• Bee City USA program is active — social media posts are well received, and outreach led to a partnership with Steve Maldonado (Natchez Glenn), a native plants expert who helped refresh the Fire Station 1 garden last fall
• Gresham Smith volunteers planted hundreds of plants at a new pollinator garden at Bicentennial Park last month, with strong support from Parks staff
• Streets Department has added small pollinator installations in right-of-ways around downtown Franklin
• Commission is reviewing three policy guides (energy, waste reduction, transportation) from 2021–2022 and is interested in updating them
• John Kell and Habitat Connection have started attending commission meetings and are working with schools and HOAs on native planting
• Josh Oats is working on a 6-acre native grass tract at Harlansdale Park through Friends of Franklin Parks
• Alderman Potts has a meeting coming up in June with 22 HOAs in Ward 3 and wants to bring a pollinator garden packet to that meeting
• Alderman Berger suggested developing a program to help HOAs convert open spaces to pollinator areas — reduces mowing, irrigation, and upkeep costs — and plans to bring it back to the commission
• Solar expansion project at the Water Reclamation Facility is in progress; Energy Source Partners expected at the next commission meeting with more details

Stable House transitional housing proposal

• Williamson County Homeless Alliance, led by Pastor Kevin Riggs, presented a concept for transitional housing at 113 Old Carter's Creek Pike — a city-owned ~3–4 acre parcel
• The main building is ~11,000 sq ft, designed to look like a barn, with 66 beds total: separate wings for men and women, 6 family rooms (hotel-style), a commercial kitchen, laundry, counseling suite, and a centrally located security station
• Up to 8 small transitional homes (~600 sq ft each, mostly 1-bedroom) are planned on the site, with a roundabout designed for school bus access
• The Alliance has moved over 200 families from homelessness into housing over the past 7 years and currently receives HUD funding
• Board directed staff to continue studying the concept; key concerns raised:
  • Neighbor outreach — the Patton family (adjacent) has been contacted; the Caruthers family (other side) has not yet
  • Site feasibility and cost — the property has an old water tank (in place since ~1910) and unknown remediation/grading costs
  • Competing city use — Eric Stuckey disclosed the city is also evaluating the site for biosolids staging from the Water Reclamation Facility
  • Security, vetting of residents, and protection of children (including no registered sex offenders on site) raised by Alderman Potts
  • Alderman Blanton pushed back on stainless steel prison-style bathroom fixtures as inconsistent with the dignity-focused mission
  • Board wants to understand the financing plan and what ongoing city obligations would look like if property is transferred
  • Vice Mayor Baggett asked for empirical data on the current homeless population in the city to right-size the facility
  • Multiple members stressed the facility should serve Franklin/Williamson County residents, not become a regional magnet
• This is the first formal presentation to any municipal body; no other property has been formally identified as an alternative

Colletta Park PUD revision

• Request is to rezone the 204.34-acre Colletta Park PUD from PD 1.26 to PD 1.27 and remove a 0.55-acre parcel (currently designated open space) to be rezoned R-1
• The neighboring property owner wants to consolidate the 0.55-acre parcel with his lot to gain frontage on Copley Road, which is required to subdivide
• Remaining open space in the PUD still exceeds the required amount after the removal; no change to unit count or uses
• Removing the parcel slightly increases density within the PUD boundary
• Alderman Berger confirmed the removed parcel, once consolidated, could yield a maximum of 4 units under R-1 zoning
• Staff and FMPC recommend approval 7–0

Ovation PUD development standards

• Request covers 15 modifications of development standards (MOS) for the 103.93-acre Ovation PUD at the southeast corner of McEwen Drive and Caruthers Parkway; no changes to density or entitlements
• Staff recommends disapproval of 3 MOS; FMPC recommended approval of all 15 (most 7–0)
• MOS 1 — Angled parking: Staff recommends disapproval; FMPC approved 6–1; applicant (Greg Gamble, representing Highwoods/CenterCal) cited zero incidents at comparable angled parking at West Main, Berry Farms, and Gateway Village over 10 years
  • Alderman Caesar wants to avoid opposing angled parking on both sides of the same two-way street (specifically near M2 and K2); staff said this could be handled as a condition
  • Staff agreed to work with the applicant to draft condition language for the public hearing
• MOS 7 — LED wayfinding signs: Staff recommended disapproval of 15 signs at 10 ft height; FMPC approved a revised proposal of 12 signs at 8 ft height, 50 sq ft max, located on internal drives only and out of view of Caruthers Parkway, McEwen Drive, and Ovation Parkway
  • Alderman Potts asked whether screens can be directional (limited viewing angle) to reduce light pollution; applicant said he'd get an answer before the next meeting
  • Applicant will also bring a statement from CenterCal on their content standards for the screens
• MOS 8 — LED movie screen: Staff recommends disapproval; FMPC approved 7–0; screen is 400 sq ft max, mounted on a building facing the central park, out of view from major roads
  • Vice Mayor Baggett and Alderman Potts raised that once an LED screen is up, the city cannot regulate content (First Amendment); Alderman Berger is comfortable with it and cited similar screens in Tulsa (Guthrie Green) and Columbus
• MOS 12 — Internal illumination for small hanging/projecting signs: Staff recommends disapproval (no precedent); FMPC approved 6–1, citing that internal illumination is less glare-producing and more pedestrian-friendly than external at this scale
• All other MOS (2–6, 9–11, 13–15) recommended for approval by both staff and FMPC

Arno Road annexation study

• Resolution 2026-22 proposes initiating a plan of services study for 79.05 acres at Arno Road and Murfreesboro Road — contiguous to city limits and within the urban growth boundary; Envision Franklin designates most of the site as single-family detached, with some neighborhood commercial
• Staff's own report concludes "the challenges and hurdles created by development of these properties at this time seem to outweigh the value to the city" — citing:
  • I-65/Highway 96 interchange already at severe peak-hour delays; additional density may not be supportable until interchange is improved
  • Water: requires Milcrofton Utility District approval; accelerates need for the unfunded South Clean Water Facility; reduces capacity at Claude Gates
  • Sewer: Goose Creek Basin interceptor must be built top-down, requiring repeated costly lift station relocations
  • Schools: Trinity Elementary at 95% capacity, Page Middle at 100%; Poplar Farms (540 homes), Navarro (77+ units), and Colletta Park (125+ units) are already zoned for these schools and not yet built out
  • Traffic: Arno Road peak morning volume at 992%, peak afternoon at 968%; Murfreesboro Road sees 31,000+ cars daily
• Williamson County Commissioner Lawrence (standing in for Commissioner Clifford) and three public speakers all urged BOMA to deny the resolution
• Applicant's representative (Greg Gamble, Meritage Homes) argued the study is the right place to work through these issues and noted school boundary shifts could ease capacity concerns
• Board sentiment was against approval — Aldermen Berger, Potts, Barnhill, and Caesar all said they won't support it; Vice Mayor Baggett raised process concerns but acknowledged the infrastructure issues are real
  • Alderman Berger's primary concern is the I-65/96 interchange and the hospital access risk; also noted the Southeast Water Facility is nearly a decade away
  • Alderman Potts noted a $250,000 I-65 corridor study has been funded and wants that completed before moving forward
  • Vice Mayor Baggett raised that denying the study also denies the property owner the chance to engage with staff and the county on actual data — and that the plan of services stage is precisely when county school impact data would be formally gathered
• Traffic numbers in the staff report came from a Kimley-Horn study done approximately one year ago
• Public hearing set for June 9, 2026

Engineering contracts

• Item 7 (change order): final change order on Adams Street water and sewer improvements — a deduction (decrease) in contract value; board had no questions
• Item 8 (Contract 2026-0170 with Alliance Engineering): ~$1 million for flow evaluation and rehabilitation design services to develop a broader plan for large-diameter fiberglass reinforced plastic pipe issues across the city's water system
• Item 9 (transit authority study): deferred to a future meeting date

BOMA Meeting Agenda Video

AI Summary

Overview

• State Rep Lee Reeves announced an additional $15M in state funding for SE MacHatcher, bringing the state's total commitment to $40M on a ~$100M project (city has committed $50M)
• IDD ordinance passed 5–2 (Barnhill and Peterson voted no) contingent on the governor signing House Bill 1681
• HHO rezoning at 354 Franklin Road passed 6–1 (Potts voted no) — revises the Hillside Hillcrest Overlay boundary across three areas, net adding conservation acreage near Ash Drive
• Middle Eight PUD vesting extension approved unanimously — extends rights to August 8th, 2029
• Transit Master Plan survey is open now; waiting until June means missing the participation window — QR code and franklintransit.org have details
• FY27 recommended budget released; Budget and Finance Committee presentation is Thursday, first reading at the next BOMA meeting

SE MacHatcher funding announcement

• Commissioner Will Reed's letter to Mayor Ken Moore announced $15M in additional state funding under TDOT's Statewide Partnership Program, raising the state's commitment from $25M to $40M
• The city had already committed $50M toward the ~$100M total project cost — Rep. Reeves noted this as one of the largest local infrastructure investments in the state
• Rep. Reeves credited direct meetings with Mayor Moore, City Administrator Eric Stuckey, city staff, and Commissioner Reed for moving the state's position

May proclamations

• Mayor Moore proclaimed May 2026 as National Preservation Month (theme: "All People Are Created Equal," tied to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence), National Public Works Week (May 17–23), and Mental Health Awareness Month
• The Mental Health proclamation highlighted the mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force QPR training and the Find Hope Franklin initiative as active city programs

Water Academy graduation

• The City of Franklin Water Academy — a 5-week course plus a Saturday field session — graduated its first cohort, covering stormwater, water sampling, collection system operations, and a pilot skid exercise tied to the upcoming South Plant
• Graduates recognized: Paul Kang, Alan Sims, Kimberly Cannon, Lawrence Riffle, Ally Perry, Melody Jamidson, Porter Calhoun, Kristen Sharp, Brynn Niels, and Brian Howard (the last three couldn't attend due to a police graduation the same night)

Miscellaneous reports

• Touch a Truck at Jim Warren Park is this Friday, May 15th, 5–8 PM — first hour is horn-free, and the event closes with the city's first-ever drone show
• FY27 recommended budget released; Budget and Finance Committee presentation is Thursday, May 14th, with first reading at the next BOMA meeting
• Transit Master Plan public survey is live — the QR code shown on screen links to a virtual room with study materials and the survey; participation window closes before the June meeting

Real estate infrastructure development districts (IDD) ordinance

• Ordinance 2026-05 passed 5–2, contingent on the governor signing House Bill 1681, which would make Franklin a host municipality
• Alderman Peterson's concern is that homebuyers in an IDD district pay an assessment of ~$1,000/year for 25 years — roughly $25,000 more than they'd otherwise pay
• Alderman Barnhill couldn't identify a clear benefit to the city and voted no alongside Peterson
• Alderman Caesar and Alderman Berger both want the tool available even if it's used selectively — Caesar framed it as preferring to have a tool and not need it; Berger pushed back on a constituent letter she said exaggerated risks and mischaracterized IDD mechanics
• Berger's key points: IDD bonds are obligations of the district, not the city; assessments are voluntary; infrastructure costs are embedded in home prices either way — IDDs just spread them over time; Texas and Florida have used the model for decades without the outcomes the letter described

HHO rezoning at 354 Franklin Road

• The rezoning revises the Hillside Hillcrest Overlay boundary in three areas on the 202.60-acre property south of MacHatcher and east of Franklin Road
  • Near Cool Springs Boulevard terminus at MacHatcher: ~2.56 acres removed from HHO, following the existing tree line
  • Franklin Road side: ~7.54 acres removed from HHO in an area that was already graded flat by a prior owner, with minimal tree canopy and no significant view shed impact per staff
  • Near Ash Drive: 1.54 acres added back into HHO to buffer existing residences
• Staff clarified a correction from the prior meeting: the 500-foot HHO buffer is not a zoning overlay — it's a measured distance applied at the time of application, so it shifts with the revised HHO line
• On the Cool Springs/MacHatcher area specifically, staff confirmed no Estate Residential structure could be built there even under the revised line — the 52-foot ROW plus 150-foot front setback under ER zoning pushes any building envelope behind the revised HHO boundary; the most likely use would be trailhead parking
• Alderman Potts moved to amend the ordinance to keep the existing HHO line only in the Cool Springs/MacHatcher area — the amendment died for lack of a second
• Vice Mayor Baggett asked about impact on Wyatt Hall (Dr. Woody's property); staff noted it's already in the HPO and slopes there are unlikely to exceed the 14% threshold that would trigger HHO buffer restrictions
• Passed 6–1, Potts voting no

Middle Eight PUD vesting extension

• Resolution 2026-12 extends vested rights for the Middle Eight PUD at 2090 Liberty Pike by 3 years, to August 8th, 2029, to allow the developer to pull permits and begin site prep
• The original plan — approved August 8th, 2023 — includes 275 residential units and 3,000 sq ft of non-residential space on 7.2 acres; a site plan was approved in October 2024 but no permits have been pulled
• Staff noted the current plan generally complies with today's zoning standards; differences are minor and wouldn't require major redesign, though a new parkland agreement, certificate of appropriateness, and updated traffic study would be needed if vesting lapsed
• Approved unanimously; Planning Commission also recommended approval unanimously

Routine votes and reappointments

• Consent agenda items 17–22 approved unanimously
• Minutes from the April 28th, 2026 work session and BOMA meeting approved unanimously
• Colletta Park PUD subdivision rezoning (204.34 acres, Murchborough Road and South Caruthers Road) set for public hearing June 9th, 2026 — approved unanimously
• Southvale PUD offsite sewer condemnation resolution approved unanimously
• Adams Street Water and Sewer final change order with SBW Constructors approved — net decrease of $7,917.63
• Michael Cooper reappointed to the Franklin Public Art Commission; Harry Harris and Comb Keenan reappointed to the Building and Street Standards Board of Appeals — both unanimous
• 1288 Lewisburg Pike plan of services progress report acknowledged — city has fulfilled all obligations; no further reports required

For all other meetings go here.

Election Commission

If not me, who?

If not now, when?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1)

“We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer gently.” (1^st Corinthians 4:12-13)

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" (Philippians 2:3)

Blessings,

Bill

pettyandassociates@gmail.com

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